Best eSim For Croatia (Connect Anywhere, Anytime)

Benefits of Getting an eSim in Croatia

The main benefit of getting an eSim while you’re traveling in Croatia is that you will always have internet access no matter what. You can simply land or arrive in the country and have data. No need to run to a store and go through all the hassle of getting a sim card.

While the capital city of Zagreb has decent free WiFi coverage for tourists, that’s not the case with most other cities and you will need an eSim if you want to have Internet access at your fingertips throughout your trip.

If you have plans to explore some of the country’s many stunning beaches, especially on the islands, you’ll definitely need an eSim for Internet access since most of the coastal towns don’t have free WiFi coverage.

I can’t live without eSims anymore. I have been to over 8 different countries lately and I only ever use eSims. I organise them before I arrive or just as I arrive. And BANG, within minutes I am online and ready to have an awesome vacation or work trip.

Local Mobile Operators Offering eSims in Croatia

A1 and T-Mobile are local operators that offer eSim cards in Croatia, but only for local customers. In other words, their prepaid tourist packages are available only with the purchase of physical sim cards.

It’s worth noting that Telemach also operates in Croatia, and it’s an even better option if purchasing a physical sim card tourist package is an option. I’ve had a poor experience with A1 because of their poor network coverage more than once, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them.

Also, Telemach offers a tourist sim card package that’s valid for 10 days, for the same price (approximately 10 Euros) as both A1 and T-mobile packages, which are valid for only a week. All providers offer packages with unlimited mobile data during the duration of the data plan, plus you have the option of purchasing more data or additional days when the initial data runs out.

One advantage of purchasing a physical sim card from a local network operator is that you will have no issues creating a hotspot to share your WiFi. And since they all offer unlimited data plans, you can work, watch movies, listen to music, and do pretty much whatever you want on the Internet.

You can also top up the sim card with cash, and use the money to make calls and send texts. Unlike with eSims, physical sim cards provide you with a local phone number that can come in handy sometimes.

Devices Compatible with eSim in Croatia

Devices that are compatible with eSim cards in Croatia are all devices that have eSim card functionality. These are usually phones that have been released in the past 4-5 years, so Android and iOS flagships released from 2018 onwards.

It’s worth noting that eSims are still a fairly new technology, and they’re not included in every single smartphone out there. While all newer Apple phones have it, if you’re using an Android as a daily driver you will need to check whether it supports eSims. The easiest way to do this is to dial *#06#. If you can see an EID (eSim Identification) number, it means that your phone supports an eSim.

Data Needed When Traveling to Croatia

The amount of data you need when traveling in Croatia really depends on what you want to use the data for. If you just want Internet access to be able to talk to friends, access social media, and check Google Maps, you should be fine with plans that have a limited amount of data.

It really depends on your personal use, but I would guess that you don’t need more than 2 GB per week if you’re not going to stream videos or music.

On the other hand, if you want to be able to stream videos, and music, and even work on your laptop, your best bet is an unlimited data plan. Some Croatia eSim cards include unlimited data for a select period of time, and this is generally the best option for travelers who want to stay connected throughout their trip and not worry about how much mobile data they’ve spent on any given day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eSim available in Croatia?

Yes, eSim is available in Croatia, but you’ll have better luck if you purchase it from one of the international eSim providers than if you try to find a local provider. While many local mobile operators offer eSim cards for local users, they don’t really offer (prepaid) eSim plans for tourists.

How can I buy an eSim in Croatia?

Since the local operators don’t offer eSims for tourists, you’ll need to buy an eSim online if you’re purchasing it after you’ve arrived in Croatia. Just visit the website of any one of the international eSim providers featured in this guide, and select the plan that seems like the best option for your needs.

If you are also okay with physical sim cards, you can buy those at most kiosks and network operator shops throughout the country.

How do I activate my eSim in Croatia?

Activating an eSim is very easy and you just need to follow the instructions that you received with the purchase of the Croatia eSim data plan. This usually entails either scanning a QR code (if you’ve provided one with the eSim card) or manually adding the eSim through your phone’s settings. The first time you turn on mobile data and connect to the Internet, your eSim is activated.